‘Idol’ contestant set to go country
Former "American Idol" contestant Mikalah Gordon, a Las Vegas teen who almost made the top 10 at age 16, has surfaced on another reality show.
She's going country.
Gordon will be among the cast of "Gone Country 2," which premieres in August on the Country Music Television network, CMT.
The inaugural show, "Gone Country," was the highest-rated series in CMT history.
Gordon will join Skid Row's Sebastian Bach; Grammy winner Irene Cara of "Fame" fame; Jermaine Jackson; Chris Kirkpatrick of 'N Sync; and actors Lorenzo Lamas and Sean Young.
The series will be shot in Nashville, Tenn., with the winner getting a chance to be a break-out country star.
Gordon's "Idol" exposure landed a guest-starring role on Fran Drescher's sitcom "Living With Fran," and she was hired as a correspondent for "The Tyra Banks Show."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Barbara Walters and her sidekicks on "The View" are returning to Las Vegas next month to do a week's worth of shows over three days, June 23, 24 and 25. The host site is still being negotiated. The show was shot at Caesars Palace in 2004 and 2006. ...
Donald Trump has another Miss USA scandal on his hands. Miss Kentucky USA 2008, Alysha Harris, whose Facebook says she's only 20, was photographed partying and bumping and grinding with New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss at the Kentucky Derby. Harris competed here last month. Trump gave former Miss USA Tara Conner a second chance more than a year ago after her underage partying and other inappropriate behavior. Las Vegan Katie Rees had her Miss Nevada USA title taken away in December 2006 after scandalous photographs surfaced. ...
PR Plus owner Laura Herlovich and her husband, Matt Vest, exchanged their wedding vows in the CBS radio tent at Churchill Downs on Saturday. They had officially tied the knot Feb. 29, but with that falling on leap year and being horse lovers, they decided to get hitched at the Derby. They'll celebrate their anniversary on Derby day every year. Herlovich figures the $117 trifecta she won just before the renewal was a good omen. In their group was Tom Humm, Vice President/General Manager CBS Radio Las Vegas, and his wife, Marcy, who had her photo taken with Chelsea Clinton. ...
The first official qualifying round of the Nathan's Famous worldwide hot dog eating circuit plays out today on the Brooklyn Bridge at New York-New York. It starts at 3 p.m. Top locals include seventh-ranked Rich "The Locust" LeFevre of Henderson, and his longtime rival, Ron Koch of Las Vegas. The winner gets an all-expense paid trip to New York City and the right to represent the United States in the 93rd Annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4. ...
The four-day Vegas Uncork'd: A Bon Appetit Epicurean Experience kicks off today, with tickets still available for the midnight poker event at the Hard Rock Hotel featuring almost a baker's dozen of the top local chefs. The lineup includes Paul Bartolotta, Jean-Phillipe Maury, Rick Moonen, Bradley Ogden, Francois Payard, Frank & Carla Pellegrino, Guy Savoy, Alex Stratta, Julian Serrano and David Walzog. The action starts at 11 p.m. Another group of chefs will get together Friday night to determine the best blackjack player.
SIGHTINGS
At Cher's opening night Tuesday at the Colosseum (Caesars Palace): Her daughter Chastity Bono, Barry Manilow and Siegfried and Roy, who received a pre-show standing ovation. After the show, Cher and her sister joined Siegfried and Roy at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... Manilow, dining at Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) on Tuesday. ... Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and actress Sharon Stone, in a booth at Picasso (Bellagio) on Monday night.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The party could be over for Hillary. She won Indiana but lost North Carolina. They're saying now the only way Obama could possibly lose would be for him to marry Bill Clinton." -- Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
